Do you need a torque wrench to change a tire on the S2000? What happens if I don't use one?

 

It is best to have a torque wrench. Otherwise, too tight and you could snap your lugs. Too loose and they may fall off.

A torque wrench comes in handy for working on the car anyway.

 

i would torque them also

 

I has heard that I could warp and/or ruin a brake rotor if I did it by hand. I know I could get the wheel on safely without breaking the studs by hand, but there's no way I could get the torque right by hand.

 

If you do torque it by hand, torque it to 80lbs (oem spec).

 

I have always hear that over torquing can warp a rotor or snap lugs. I have never seen this happen, however I use a torque wrench unless I do not have one then I will hand tighten (likely overly tight) until I can get home and put the torque wrench on it.

 

You know, I've known a few who just have a feel for how tight is right. I would always use a torque wrench on an alloy wheel.

You might: overtighten and not be able to remove a lug nut with the cheezy little wrench if you have a flat on the road, or

you might: undertighten and have a wheel loosen. It will ruin your wheel and is of course dangerous.

and I would never trust the so-called torque extensions that some tire centers use on their impact wrenches. I can testify that these are totally inaccurate.

 

When I say, "by hand" I mean without a torque wrench. So I would have to guess, based on feel. A friend had false antilock brake and traction control engagements along with a pulsing brake petal, that he said went away when the lug nuts were properly torqued. This was on a GM sedan. I was wondering if the S2000 had similar issues.

 

This is the first car ive ever used a torque wrench to tighten the lugs on. I cant see how a ballpark of 80-100ft# would be dangerously high. Its usually better tighter than looser.

"thats what she said"

 

80lbs with a torch wrench, otherwise its just guesswork.